In a recent episode, a Welsh property developer visited several youth projects in West Belfast, then dished out thousands of pounds to individuals and groups. It was all very heart-warming, although it triggers ambivalence about the Lady Bountiful overtones. Still, it's his money.
It set me thinking about the process of grant-making. When I was chief executive of The National Youth Agency, I had to persuade the government to support the agency's work. This was rarely straightforward as, simultaneously, we may have been challenging government policy. When working with the government one is mindful of the Russian saying: "The only free cheese is in a mouse trap". The trick is to get as much cheese as possible without being trapped by inappropriate targets.
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